This intensive course is for language learners striving toward the B1 level.
My suggestion* for these two weeks is to focus on:
*There's always room to adjust the course according to the group's preferences:
After this course, you'll have come closer to the B1 level and have the tools and strategies to get there and beyond.
Not sure if you should enroll in the A2 or B1 course?
Geared toward Absolute Beginners, this course gives you a solid start and foundation to build upon.
This is an introductory course to the Portuguese language as spoken in Portugal. Throughout the course, we will focus on the Portuguese sound system and basic Portuguese grammar.
You will also learn how to introduce yourself and day-to-day, useful phrases. Finally, we will discuss learning resources and strategies to support your learning journey.
After the course, you will have a basic understanding of European Portuguese pronunciation and grammar. You will also be capable of engaging in simple, short oral interactions. Last but not least, you will be aware of a variety of learning resources and strategies to help you succeed at learning the language.
I will keep you updated on upcoming course seasons
This intensive course is for language learners striving toward the A2 level.
My suggestion* for these two weeks is to focus on:
*There's always room to adjust the course according to the group's preferences:
After this course, you'll have come closer to the A2 level and have the tools and strategies to get there and beyond.
Not sure if you should enroll in the A2 or B1 course?
This intensive course is for language learners striving toward the A1 level.
If you have just started your learning journey, you may find this course too challenging. Consider enrolling for the Clean Slate A0 instead (if available).
This is an all-round course, meaning that we’ll work on all aspects of language learning (at the A1 level):
After this course, you'll have come closer to the A1 level and have the tools and strategies to get there and beyond.
Not sure if you should enroll in the A1 or A2 course?
Regarding pronunciation, the letter x is definitely challenging for those learning Portuguese. Here is why;
In Portuguese, the letter x stands for four different language sounds, namely, the /ʃ/-sound (as in shape), the /ks/-sound (as in tax), the /z/-sound (as in zen), and the /s/-sound (as in sun).
Luckily, there are a few spelling patterns that will make it easier for you. Learning these patterns and keeping them in the back of your mind will allow you, in most cases, to guess it right. Read on.
IPA – International Phonetic Alphabet
The symbols in the paragraph above, the ones enclosed in forward-slashes, are IPA symbols and refer to language sounds across all languages regardless of their specific scripts.
Read the following article if you want to learn the IPA symbols specifically concerning the Portuguese language: Portuguese pronunciation: a helpful guide to Portuguese basic sounds and spelling patterns.
The most common language sound produced by X is, by far, the /ʃ/-sound (as is ashes). Let’s look at a few spelling patterns rendering the /ʃ/-sound.
Virtually all Portuguese words starting with an X render the /ʃ/-sound. Here’re a few examples:
Also, whenever the letter X stands right in front of another consonant, it will produce the /ʃ/-sound. Many of the words in this group have English cognates wherein the X renders a /ks/-sound instead:
The letter X is more devious when it is stuck in between vowels. In that case, there are three possibilities and no definitive rules. Yet, in most cases, X will render the /ʃ/-sound as before. Take a look at the following examples:
Again, when stuck in between vowels, the letter X can also render language sounds other than the /ʃ/-sound. Let’s take a look at those cases.
The letter X produces a /ks/-sound (as in accident) when stuck in between vowels. Often, these words have English cognates that are also pronounced with the same /ks/-sound. Take a look at these examples:
The letter X can also stand for the /z/-sound (as in zealous). Typically, these words have English cognates *, although the latter will render the /gz/-sound instead:
* Speaking of cognates, you may know more Portuguese words than you think you do. Here’s something to give your vocabulary a real boost: English-Portuguese cognates – the words you already know (without knowing it).
Finally, the letter X can also stand for the /s/-sound (as in sow). However, this is rare and you should look at it as an exception:
Break Free from the Tyranny of the Present Tense
Stay tuned for upcoming online courses and other learning materials.